Fifty-three new grey-hounds at the Shanghai Wild Animal Park
received a warm present this holiday season - tailor-made cotton
coats.
The dogs, which recently arrived from Australia, where temperatures
are currently hovering around 30 degrees Celsius, were having
trouble adapting to Shanghai's chilly winter before the new coats
arrived.
"They curled up in the corner," said Pan Xiaogan, who looks after
animals at the park. "But after they were put on the new coats,
they started to frolic again."
The Aussie dogs could become star attractions at the park next
year, when it introduces greyhound racing.
With both the park and the Shanghai Zoo flourishing, they are able
to take better care of all their animals, installing more heaters
and providing better food than in the past when they could only pay
special attention to a few prized residents.
Mandrill, a fierce baboon from western Africa, is the happy
recipient of a new electronic heater that keeps his enclosure a
comfy 20 degrees Celsius.
Similar heaters have also been set up in the habitats of several
cold-blooded animals such as snakes.
(eastday.com December 31, 2002)